Texas State tight end Blake Smith (6) celebrates a touchdown by receiver Beau Sparks (11) during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State tight end Blake Smith (6) celebrates a touchdown by receiver Beau Sparks (11) during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State quarterback Holden Geriner (13) kneels in the endzone ahead of the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State quarterback Holden Geriner (13) kneels in the endzone ahead of the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State quarterback Brad Jackson (8) runs the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson (8) runs the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State Univeristy president Kelly Damphouse leads the team onto the field ahead of the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State Univeristy president Kelly Damphouse leads the team onto the field ahead of the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) runs the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) runs the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanEastern Michigan running back Tavierre Dunlap (8) is stopped during the game against Texas State at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Eastern Michigan running back Tavierre Dunlap (8) is stopped during the game against Texas State at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanEastern Michigan defensive back Jesse Vasquez (12) breaks up a pass to Texas State receiver Kylen Evans (2) during the game at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Eastern Michigan defensive back Jesse Vasquez (12) breaks up a pass to Texas State receiver Kylen Evans (2) during the game at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State quarterback Brad Jackson (8) snaps the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson (8) snaps the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State runnung back Greg Burrell (9) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State runnung back Greg Burrell (9) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State fan Clayton Geis cheers during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State fan Clayton Geis cheers during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State head coach GJ Kinne walks the field ahead of the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State head coach GJ Kinne walks the field ahead of the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State defensive end Kalil Alexander (2) hypes up the crowd during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State defensive end Kalil Alexander (2) hypes up the crowd during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State fans cheer during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State fans cheer during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) runs the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) runs the ball during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanFrom left, Texas State fans Emily Garcia, Kyndal Martin and Sabrina Nodler cheer during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

From left, Texas State fans Emily Garcia, Kyndal Martin and Sabrina Nodler cheer during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-StatesmanTexas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) dives for a first down during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) dives for a first down during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman

SAN MARCOS — Texas State football cruised to a season-opening win Saturday night, running all over Eastern Michigan in a 52-27 win.

Despite losing three starters from the wide receivers room and on the offensive line, Texas State’s offense didn’t miss a beat. The running backs room was just as advertised with Lincoln Pare, Greg Burrell, Jaylen Jenkins and Terrance Burgess Jr. combining for 332 rushing yards. Quarterback Brad Jackson put on a surgical display in his first start, throwing for 214 yards and four touchdowns on 18 of 26 passing. And the defense wasn’t stellar, but showed significant improvement in the second half. 

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Texas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman

“For him to go out there and perform like he did, man, that was fun,” Bobcats coach GJ Kinne said of Jackson. “You never know how they’re going to go out there and play until they go out there and play.”

Here are some takeaways from Texas State’s win:

RECAP: Texas State football dominate Eastern Michigan for first win

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Lincoln Pare and Greg Burrell establish dominance

Texas State leaned on its running game in a big way and Pare was the biggest beneficiary. In the first half alone, Pare recorded 158 yards and one touchdown on nine carries. He finished with 167 yards on 12 attempts, mostly because Kinne gave more touches to Burgess and Jenkins as the lead grew in the second half.

Although Kinne said some of his players struggled to get into the flow of the game due to their inexperience, Pare had no such issues.

“There’s no substitute for that experience,” Kinne said. “He goes out there and he’s done this before. That was really good for him to come out there and be as explosive as he was.”

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Kinne expressed pride after the game at the fact that all four of his backs got carries. But before Texas State took its commanding lead, Pare and Burrell were taking a majority of the carries in the first half. Burrell, a UNLV transfer, rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. He also caught two passes for 31 yards.

MORE: Exciting transfers for Texas State’s 2025 season

Texas State’s defense bounces back

The first half was undeniably rough for Texas State’s defense. Eastern Michigan recorded 231 yards of offense and at the end of the second quarter the Eagles scored a touchdown to cut the lead to 24-17.

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There were multiple missed tackles. And Eastern Michigan quarterback Noah Kim found success against the secondary, throwing for 134 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles ran for 97 yards on 5.7 yards per carry, which includes a 17-yard sack by Texas State.

But after halftime, the defense locked in.

“I think we just calmed down a little bit,” Kinne said. “Sometimes it takes a little bit to just kind of get used to the speed of the game.”

Tackling was also an issue that Kinne said improved after halftime. But as Texas State prepares to take on next week a UTSA that scored 24 points Saturday against Texas A&M, it can’t afford to have the first-half defense of Week 1 show up again.

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Texas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) catches a pass for a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Texas State receiver Beau Sparks (11) catches a pass for a touchdown during the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman

Brad Jackson and Beau Sparks’ electric connection

Jackson and wide receiver Kylen Evans may be roommates, but it was Jackson’s connection with Beau Sparks that resulted in four touchdowns. The final score actually was a play scripted for Chris Dawn Jr.

“Then Beau, of course, got open,” Kinne said.

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Sparks said there was no special sauce or secret to the pair’s chemistry; they built it up over time through countless hours of work, on and off the field. 

“It was kind of seamless coming into the game, because we kind of just knew we were on the same page,” Sparks said.

And though Jackson was impressive through the air, Kinne lauded the redshirt freshman’s legs. The coach said the quarterback consistently got the offense out of tricky situations thanks to his ability to escape and create outside the pocket.

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The only critique came from a moment 11 minutes into the first quarter when Jackson escaped the pocket with the ball loose in his right hand. A defender chased the quarterback down and caused a fumble that Texas State recovered 9 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

“That’s a good learning moment,” Kinne said. “That’s happened a couple of times. Not the fumble, but kind of what happened there … so we got to correct that.”